Be cautious with the “mate for life”. All animals of both sexes will slut it up and bang anything receptive and some things that aren’t. Ever have your leg jumped by a dog? There are some animals that are pair bonded for raising the young - that does not imply that they both contributed to the genetic content of the offspring.
Thanks Dr Bob!
There is great work on prairie vs mountain voles. Mountain voles are pair bonded and meadow voles are not (I think that’s right). All of them are rodent polyamorous nymphomaniacs with respect to the breeding, it’s just that the mountain ones prefer co-nesting with the same vole regardless of who they’re banging. There is a brain difference with respect to oxytocin sensitivity that seems to control the nesting behavior.
There is a brain difference with respect to oxytocin sensitivity that seems to control the nesting behavior.
That is fascinating. I would imagine it’s also a benefit to know that you’ve got another warm buddy to nest with consistently.
I got it wrong 😡 Prairie voles are the “monogamous” ones. But here’s a general interest article on the topic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/monogamous-prairie-voles-reveal-the-neurobiology-of-love/
Ahh, ok. Cool! Thanks for the link!
Black Widows
Bugs?